Float-operated electric switch



July 26, 1932. c; H. TEESDALE 9,

FLOAT OPERATED ELECTRIC SWITCH I Filed Nov. 22, 1950 SSheet -Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Clyde H IZZ'QJciJZe ATTORNEYS.

July 26, 19 32. c TEESDALE 1,869,030

FLOAT OPERATED ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 22, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 INVENTOR. Q l G yieHT'eeJcZaZe I BY .15 W a 1 410 ATTORNEYS.

July 26, 1932. c T LE 1,869,030

FLOAT OPERATED ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov'. 22, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7. [a INVENTOR.

, I CZycZe H ifewchz] 2 BY im Mr Y %g% ATTORNEYJ zation herelnaiter particularly Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE CLYDE H. TEE SDALE, OF GRAND RAPII IDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO TEESDALE 'M'AIISTIIT- FAGTURING- COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MIGH- IGAN FLOAT-OPERATED ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed November 22, 1930. Serial No. 497,391.

The present invention relates to controlling means for electric switches of the type shown in my Patent No.'1-,760,382 and pending application Serial 30, 1927; and its object is, generally, to provide means of that character improved in certain respects hereinafter appearing; and more particularly, to. provide such a switch .controlled by a plurality of floats having combined and separate operations; and further, to provide such-floats having a spacer member therebetween; and further, to provide such floats one of which carries during a portion of its movement a weight member; and further, to provide such floats one above the otherand so arranged as to operate independently and in a sufficient depth of liquid; and further, to provide such floats arranged to exert their maximum effect in those portions of their movements wherein the switch is operated; and further, to provide means whereby the float may readily move within limits along a switch-controlling rod; and "further,'to provide a vacuum gage and means for closing the switch temporarily to operate the gage. v

These and any other objects heneinafter appearing are attained by, and the invention finds preferable embodiment in, the organi-- described in the body of this'specification and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a vessel adapted to containliquid (as oil used in an 35 oil-burning heater) having liquid-supplying means, an electric switch for governing t e operation of said means and cohtro ling means for the switch, a portion of the vessel being broken away;

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof looking toward the right-hand side of Figure 1, certain parts being shown in vertical central section; 5 T

Figure 3 is a similar view of the sa'me,-but

showing certain parts in anotherposition;

Figure 4 is a similar yiew thereof, but

showing said parts in still another position;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the electrio switch and controlling parts inthe position assumed when the vesselsfloats are in No. 209,419 filed July the circuit-opening position seen in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a similar view of some of the parts seen in Figure 5, but shown in the position assumed when the floats arein the cirouit-closing position seen in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a similar view of some of said parts, but shown in the position they assume when said floats are-in the emergency circuitopening position seen in Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is an elevational view of an installation of an embodiment of the invention in connection with an oil-burning heater, certain parts being shown in vertical section.

3 In the, embodiment of the invention illustrated by these drawings, the oil-containing vessel 1 of an oil-burning heating installation is shown, supplied from a suitable source as the reservoir .2 (shown in Figure 8) by electrically-operated means, as a pump (indicated at 41) driven by an electric motor, said pump and motor being of usual construction and contained in asuitable casing 3 and housing 4 respectively. The electric circuit 5 containin said motor and a source of electric energy .not shown) has a circuit closer and opener or switch of any suitable type, preferably the mercury switch 6 as shown. This switch is carried, as by an embracing band 7;" on a member 8 tiltable about a horizontal axis 9 to circuit-opening position seen in Figures 5 and 7 and to circuit-closing position shown in Figure 6. A spring 10, connected at 11 to the switch-carrying member 8 and at 12 to a lever 13 fulcrumed on a horizontal axis 14:, extends in the closed position of the switch during the regu lar pumping operation of the motor below. said axes as seen in Figure 6 and thus yield- ,ingly maintains the lever 13, and the switch 6 with its carrying member 8 in.the interrelative positions seen in that view wherein the circuit is closed. To the arm 22 of lever 13 is connected a depending rod 15 extendried by the oil in the vessel has a vertical bore 20through which said rod loosely extends. Alowenfloat 18 (which maybe called the auxiliary or emergency? float) is secured as by the set screw 61 on the lower end of this rod 15, and in the regular running operation of the organism supports as seen in Figure 2 a weight member 34 having a bore 35 through which said rod extends loosely.

When oil, being exhausted from vessel 1 through its discharge pipe 30 leading to the oil-burning heater indicated at 31, reaches 'a predetermined low level, the bottom of the main float engages the upper end 32 of the weight member which acts as a spacer block between the floats, and the descent of the upper float continuing, 'this float presses the lower float 18 downwardly until the upper float and theweight member are supported in a resting position shown in Figure 3' on a stop or shelf 24 having a bore 36 through which the rod 15 loosely passes and an up- .right arm 25 held in vertically adjusted position by means of a set screw 26.

In the regular operation of the organization, (sufficient oil being pumped into vessel 1) the floats rise, until the upper float 19 engages the collar 16'on rod 15 whereupon the buoyancy of both floats being combined they exert their maximum lifting effect which is now sufficient to swing the arm 22 of lever 13 upwardly and cause the spring 10 to pass above the axes 9, 14 to suddenly raise arm 23 of member 8 and tilt the switch to circuitopening position and stop the motor. The main or upper float 19 then rises from the upper end 32 of the weight member, the up- .ward-movement of the lower float 18 having 10 to pass below the axes 9 and '14, thereby suddenly moving the switch to closed position and causing the pump to operate.

The parts are now in the positions seen in Figures 3 and 6. In the regular operation of the organization the parts thus move between the positions shown in Figures 2 and 5 and the positions seen in Figures 3 and 6.

The buoyancy of the two floats is thus desirably such that the action of both is required to throw the switch to the position seen in Figure 5 and open the circuit in the regular operation of the organization, although prior to the engagement of the upper float with the collar 16 the lower float 18 has been exerting an upward pressure on rod 15;

and until the upper float falls far enough to engage the upper end of the weight member, the buoyancy of the lower float (as in the position of the parts shown in Figure 2) does not resist the upper floats falling movement.

Thus the pressure of the floats on the rod 15 and their action in moving the switch is exerted gradually to overcome the pressure of spring 10 and tilt the switch. The lower float 18 not only acts thus in the regular operation of the organization, but acts also as an emergency device. Should the oil become exhausted from the supply reservoir 2 or should it leak or be discharged in any manner from the vessel 1 faster than the pump supplies the same thereto or for other accidental causes should fail to be supplied to the vessel 1 in normal volume (although the motor be still in operation), the float 18 descends from the lowest position it assumes in the regular operation of the organization (seen in Figure 3) and moves the rod 15 still farther downwardly thus swinging the arm 22 of lever 13 to the position shown in Figure 7 which action moves the switch upregular operation; and this action takes place although the buoyancy of the lower float is not suflicient to raise the rod 15 high enough to throw the switch to the open positlon shown in Figure 5, this effect requiring that the upper float has risen high enough to engage collar 16, whereupon the lifting action 'of'both floats combined opens the switch as above described and as seen in Figure 5.

It will also be seen that by reason of the two floats and the arrangement of the parts as above described, a suflicient depth of oil in the vessel is provided for the movement of the lower float between its positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 in its operation as an emergency device. The action of the lever 13 on the switch-carrying member 8 may be made more positive than as accomplished by the spring 10, by the engagement of said levers arm 37 with the arm 38 of said member, or said levers arm 39 with said members arm 40. The main float 19 is slightly weighted at 42 on its bottom so that it may freely move along the vertical rod 15 without binding thereon.

A vacuum gage of common form in the pipe 21 is indicated at 43 in Figure 8; and inasmuch as the same cannot. indicate the vacuum created by the pump unless the pump be runand pump for closing the circuit 5 and'causing the pump to operate for a suflicient time to operate the gage when it is desired to read the same.

Such means for closing the identical switch 6 which controls the operation of the organining, means are combined with this gage zation and for such a suflicient time is shown in Figures 5 and 7 and comprises a horizontal bar 43 slidable in a bearing 44 against the pressure of a spring ,46 and having an inclined end portion 45 with a shallow notch 47 this bar having also a lateral projection 50. When said. bar is slid manually by its projecting handle 48 toward the left hand side of Figure 5, its inclined end 47 strikes the bent-over end 49 of rod 15 (or' some pro jecting part of this rod or of arm 22) and raises arm 22 from its position shown in Fig ure 7 to that seen in Figure 6, the bent-over end 49 moving into said shallow notch; and

the bars projection 50 strikes a portion 51 of the switch-carrying member 8, to hold the switch closed until the hand is removed from the handle 48 permitting the spring 46 to slide the bar back.

But supposing the vessel 1 to be full of oil (or nearly so) and-the parts in the position seen in Figure 5, the bar 43 on being pushed* inwardly causes its projection 50 to engage the portion 51 of member 8 and closes the switch, but the bars inclined end 45 does not strike the bent-over end 49 of rod 15, said bent-over end being in too high a position (when the vessel is full) to be thus engaged by the inclined end of the bar. Thus the position of this rod 15 is not interfered with although the switch is closed for a short time.

If in such full condition of the vessel 1 the switch be closed, oil pumped into the vessel will be returned through the overflow pipe to the reservoir 2. v

The invention being intended to be pointed out in the claims, is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings or hereinbefore described.

What is claimed is:

1. In an organization of the character described: a vesseladapted to contain liquid; an electric switch; upper and lower floats in the vessel having operative" connection with the switch including a vertical rod having a stop, the rod being movable upwardly to open the switch and downwardly to close the same, the upper float having a downwardly limited movement anda movement between the stop and the lower float, the combined buoyancy of the floats and the com bined weight thereof acting on the rod being requisite for opening and closing the switch respectively.

2. In an organization of the character described: a vessel adapted to contain liquid; an electric switch; upper and lower floats in the vessel havin operative connection with the switch inclu ing a vertical rod having a stop, the rod being movable upwardly to open the switch and downwardly to close the same in the normal-operation of the organization, and farther downwardly to open the switch in an emergency operation thereof,'the upper float having a downwardly limited movement and a movement between the stop and the lower float, the combined buoyancy of the ,floats and the combined weight thereof actbeing suflicient for opening and closing the switch respectively in said emergency operation.

3. In "an organization of the character described: a vessel adapted to contain liquid; an electric switch; upper and lower floats in the vessel having operative connection with the switch including a vertical rod having a stop, the rod being movable upwardly to open the switch and downwardly to close the same; a weight'member having a downwardly limited movement and a movement between the floats sustained by the lower float in an upper position thereof, the upper float having a downwardly limited movement and a movement between the stop and the weight member.

4. In an organization of the character described: a vessel adapted to ,contain liquid; an electric switch; upper and lower floats in the vessel having operative connection with the switch including a vertical rod hav ing a stop, the rod being movable by the floats upwardly to open the switcha-nd downwardly to close the same in the normal operation of the organization, and movable by the lower float to a lower position to open the switch in an emergency operation of the organization and reversely to close the same, the upper float having a downwardly limited movement and a movement between the stop and the hereinafter-mentioned weight member; a weight member having a downwardly limited movement and a movement between the floats sustained by the lower float in an upper position thereof.

5. In an organization of the character described: a vessel adapted to contain liquid; an electric tiltable switch; upper and lower floats in the vessel having operative connection with the switch including a swingable arm, a spring between the switch and the arm and a vertical rod connected to the arm and having a stop, the rod beingmovable by the floats upwardly to open the switch suddenly by the spring and downwardly to close the switch suddenly by the spring in the normal operation of the organization, and movable by the lower float to a lower position to open the switch in an emergency operation of the organization-and reversely to close the same, the upper float having a downwardly limited movement and a movement between the stop and the hereinaftermentioned Weight member; a weight member having a downwardly limited movement and a movement between the floats sustained by the lower float in an upper position thereof.

6. In an organization of the character described: a vessel adapted to contain liquid; an electric switch; a float in the vessel having 5 operative connection with the switch including a vertical rod, the rod bein movable upwardly to open the switch an downwardly to close the same; a weight member carried by the float in an upper position thereof and 1 sustained independently of the float in a lower position thereof.

7. In an organization of the character described: a vessel adapted to contain liquid; an electric switch; upper and lower floats in the vessel having operative connection with the switch, and having vertical movements limited relatively to each other; a weight member carried by one of the floats in an upper position thereof and sustained independently of the same in a lower position thereof.

8. In an organization of the character described: a vessel adapted to contain. liquid; an electric switch; a vertical rod connected with the switch for operating the same; a float in the vessel having a vertical bore through which the rod freely passes to a stopped position thereon, the float being weighted at its bottom for the purpose '30 specified.

9. In an organization of the character described a vessel adapted to contain liquid; an electric tiltable switch; a float in the vessel 1 having operative connection with the switch 33 including an arm swingable relatively to the switch, a spring between the switch and the arm for suddenly tilting the switch by the arm and a vertical rod actuated by the float; means for closing said switch comprising a 40 bar manually slidable against the pressure of a spring and having an inclined end "portion engagingthe arm in one position thereof and a pro ect1on engaging the switch to tilt the same to closed position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Grand Rapids, Michigan, this 8th day of November, 1930.

CLYDE I-I. TEESDALE. 

